Multi-purpose loader bucket



Feb. 19, 1963 J. SVOBODA 3,077,999

MULTI-PURPOSE LOADER BUCKET Filed April 2'7, 1960 e Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. L/A/VES SI/050404 A TTOR1VEYS Feb. 19, 1963 J. SVOBODA3,077,999

MULTI-PURPOSE LOADER BUCKET Filed April 27, 1960 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WIVES 5405604 ATTOR1VEYS\ Feb. 19, 1963 .1. SVOBODA MULTI-PURPOSELOADER BUCKET 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 2'7, 1960 Feb. .19, 1963 J.svoBoDA MULTI- PURPOSE LQADER BUCKET 6 :She sis-She at 4 .Ffillzed April27, 1960 YINVENTOR.

c/lxvzs 67050.04

ATTORNEYS Feb. 19, 1963 J. SVOBODA MULTI-PURPOSE LOADER BUCKET 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 2'7, 1960 INVENTOR. c/orzs 67 0004 ArramvzysFeb. 19, 1963 J. SVOBODA 3,077,999

MULTI-PURPOSE LOADER BUCKET Filed April 27, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VENTOR. (Al/ 5 51 0500:

1 Z 22 M W ATTORNEYS United States Patent ()fitice 3,077,999 PatentedFeb. 19, 1963 3,077,999 MULTl-PURFGSE LOADER BUCKET James Svohoda, NorthAurora, 113., assignor to Caterp llar Tractor $0., Peoria, 111., acorporation of California Filed Apr. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 24,954 fiiaims.(Cl. 214--145) This invention relates to loader buckets and particularlyto a bucket made of several articulately connected sections which makeit possible to operate the bucket in many different positions fordifferent types of operations .or jobs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bucket adapted tobe connected to the lift arm and tilt linkage of a conventional loaderand, through articulated parts powered for relative movement, to beadjusted to positions which enable its efiicient use for many differenttypes of operations.

It is also an object ofthe present invention to provide a loader bucketwhich is readily adjustable to positions for use in ordinary loadingoperations as well as for many other operations such as bull clarnming,bulldozing, back dragging, transporting logs, pipes and other similararticles, loading trash or loose materials and cutting banks.

Further and more specific objects and advantages are made apparent inthe following specification wherein the invention is described in detailby reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a conventional loader with abucket constructed in accordance with the present invention attachedthereto;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the bucket shown in FIG. 1 in loadingposition with its cover fully opened.

FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2 with parts in section with the coverremoved and with the body of the bucket in raised position;

FIG. 4 is a similar view with the cover secured in place and the bodyand back of the bucket spread as for bull clamming operations;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail in section taken on the line V--V of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view with parts in sectionillustrating portions of the operating mechanism of the bucket;

FIG. 7 is a perspective fragmentary detail showing the opposite side ofthe structure illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the manner in which the bucket can be usedin a modified bull clamming or loading operation where depth control isdesirable;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating the bucket in the operation of handling alog or pole; and

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating the bucket as it may be used in cutting abank.

The loader bucket of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 inassociation with a conventional wheeltype loader and conventional buckethandling mechanism which comprises a pair of lift arms 10 and tiltlinkage, generally indicated at 11, both pivotally connected to thebucket and operable by hydraulic jacks, not shown, to raise and lowerthe bucket through the medium of the lift arms and to tilt the bucketbetween loading, carrying and dump positions in a well known manner.

The bucket of the present invention is constructed of three majorarticulately connected parts which, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, are abowl 12 with a back member 1 and a cover 16. The back member ispivotally connected to the bowl as at 17 having forwardly extendingwings at both ends through which pivot pins extend. The cover 16 ispivoted to the bowl as at 18 for swinging movement between the closedposition illustrated in FIG. 1 and the open position illustrated in fulllines in FIG. 2. A hydraulic jack 20' is pivotally connected at one endwith respect to the back member 14 by a pin 21 as is shown in FIG. 6 andas will be hereinafter more fully described. The rod of this jack ispivoted as by a pin 22- to the cover member so that retraction and eX-tension of the rod will open and close the cover. A similar jack, notshown, is employed at the opposite side of the bucket to balance theforces and stresses to which the parts are subjected but a descriptionof one jack will .sutfice for an understanding of the present invention.These jacks are included in a conventional hydraulic circuit withcontrol means disposed within reach of the operator of the tractor uponwhich the bucket is mounted.

Ordinary loading operations with the bucket may be accomplished with thestructure illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in the usual manner ofloading, carrying and dumping material either with the cover in its openposition as shown in FIG. 2, or .if desired, with the cover closedduring the lifting and carrying operations to aid in retaining a loadwithin the bucket.

The cover 16 may be removed for operations where it is not required andas shown in FIG. 3, the rods of the jacks 20 may then be connected as bypins 24 to the same pivot openings employed for connecting the coverwith the bowl. With this arrangement, the bowl may be raised relative tothe back 14 as shown in FIG. 3 and a cutting edge 25 is provided on theback 14 to enable the use of the back as an ordinary bulldozer. Materialgathered by the bulldozing back 14 utilized in this position may bepicked up and moved by manipulating the jacks 20 to lower the bowl toits closed position.

FIG. 4 illustrates an arrangement of the bucket where it is to be usedfor bull clamming operations with the cover 16 secured in place againstthe bowl 12 by locking means generally indicated at 27 and with the jackconnected to the cover as at 22 so that actuation of the jack functionsto open and close the back 14 and the bowl 12 relative to each other.

FIG. 8 illustrates the use of the bucket in a sort of modified bullclamming or scraping operation wherein the depth of cut is controlled bylowering the bowl into engagement with the surface of the earth andmaking a cont-rolled cut with the cutting edge on the back member withthe spoil entering upwardly into the bowl and retainable therein byclosing the bowl against the back.

FIG. 9 shows the same combination of parts illustrated in PEG. 8employed in the handling of a log or pole which may be gripped betweenthe back and the bowl. To facilitate this operation, the forwardlyextending side wings of the back are curved rearwardly above the cuttingedge to enable secure gripping of the log or pole being handled.

FIG. 10 illustrates a further use of the bucket in cutting or trimming'a bank where the cover is raised while the cutting edge at the front ofthe bowl engages and moves upwardly against the wall of the back beingformed. Light finishing or trimming of the bank may also be accomplishedby manipulation of the jack 20 to swing the cover downwardly with itsleading edge in scraping contact with the surface of the bank wherebysoil removed will be received in the bowl.

Referring back to FIG. 4, the locking or securing means generallyindicated at 27 comprises an eye bolt 29 with its eye embracing a hook30 welded to the side of the bowl and its opposite end which is threadeddisposed between a pair of lugs 31 on the cover so that a nut onthethreaded end secures the cover against movement relative to the bowl. Anidentical locking member is employed on the opposite side of the bucket.The bucket is also provided with a second book 32 and the back 14 hasspaced lugs 33 so that the same eye bolt may be employed for securingthe bowl and the back against relative movement as for example in thearrangement illustrated in FIG. 2 where the locking device is againgenerally indicated at 27.

It is desirable to provide means for guiding the cover into properregistry when the bowl is moved towards its closed position and this isaccomplished by means illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 in the form of guidemembers 35. The members 35 are welded to the opposite edges of the coverin a position to embrace the edges of the bowl as the cover moves to itsclosed position.

The manner in which the jacks 20 are mounted is best shown in FIGS. 6and 7 wherein the back member 14 is shown as formed with a separate endwall 37 spaced inwardly from its extreme end and connected therewith bya forwardly curved plate 38 forming a protective pocket for reception ofthe jacks and their pivot pins as shown in FIG. 6. A bearing bracket 39receives both or" the pins 17 and 18 to lend rigidity to the operatinglink-age.

Stop means to limit the upward swinging movement of the bowl withrespect to the back may also be disposed Within the recess which housesthe jack as shown in FIG. 3 wherein a plate 4% supports a stop member 41engage able by the bearing bracket 39 to prevent further raising of thebowl 12.

I claim:

1. A loader bucket of the kind described which comprises a body memberhaving a bottom with upstanding end walls, a back member pivoted to theend walls upwardly thereof to swing between open and closed positionsrelative thereto, a cover similarly pivoted for opening and closing thefront of the body member, said cover having a portion overlying the backmember, and power means between the back member and said portion forselectively swinging the cover and back member relative to the bodymember.

2. A loader bucket of the kind described which com prises a body memberhaving a bottom with upstanding end walls, a back member pivoted to theend walls upwardly thereof to swing between open and closed positionsrelative thereto, and a cover similarly pivoted for opening and closingthe front of the body member, power means between the back member andcover to swing the cover relative to the body member, and latch means tosecure the back member and body member against relative pivotalmovement.

3. A loader bucket of the kind described which comprises a body memberhaving a bottom with upstanding end walls, a back member pivoted to theend walls upwardly thereof to swing between open and closed posi tionsrelative thereto, and a cover similarly pivoted for opening and closingthe front of the body member, power means between the back member andcover to swing the cover relative to the body member, and means tosecure the cover and body member against relative pivotal movementwhereby said power means becomes efieotive to swing the bodymemberrelative to the back member.

4. A loader bucket of the kind described which comprises a body memberhaving a bottom with upstanding end walls, a back member pivoted to theend walls upwardly thereof to swing between open and closed positionsrelative thereto, and a cover similarly removably pivoted for openingand closing the front of the body member, power actuated extensiblemeans pivoted at one end to the back member and at the other end to thecover, and arranged, upon removal of the cover, to be pivotallyconnected at said other end to the body member to swing the body memberrelative to the back memher.

5. A loader bucket of the kind described which comprises a body memberhaving a bottom with upstanding end walls, a back member pivoted to theend walls upwardly thereof to swing between open and closed positionsrelative thereto, and a cover similarly removably pivoted for openingand closing the front of the body member, power actuated extensiblemeans pivoted at one end to the back member and at the other end to thecover, and arranged, upon removal of the cover, to be pivotallyconnected at said other end to the body member on the same axis of thepivotal connection between the cover and body member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,291,858 Allin Aug. 4, 1942 2,529,208 Andersen Nov. 7, 1950 2,812,595Drott Nov. 12, 1957 2,816,676 Avery et al. Dec. 17, 1957 2,883,772 DodgeApr. 28, 1959 2,950,550 French Aug. 30, 1960

1. A LOADER BUCKET OF THE KIND DESCRIBED WHICH COMPRISES A BODY MEMBERHAVING A BOTTOM WITH UPSTANDING END WALLS, A BACK MEMBER PIVOTED TO THEEND WALLS UPWARDLY THEREOF TO SWING BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONSRELATIVE THERETO, A COVER SIMILARLY PIVOTED FOR OPENING AND CLOSING THEFRONT OF THE BODY MEMBER, SAID COVER HAVING A PORTION OVERLYING THE BACKMEMBER, AND POWER MEANS BETWEEN THE BACK MEMBER AND SAID PORTION FORSELECTIVELY SWINING THE COVER AND BACK MEMBER RELATIVE TO THE BODYMEMBER.